The US became an petroleum exporter for the first time in 2011 since 1949. Exports of petroleum exceeded imports by 439,000 barrels daily. Import totaled 269,000 barrels daily in 2010. Export was encouraged by reduction of domestic demand for fuel, RIA Novosti reports.
Exports of distillates increased by 30%, compared with the year before, totaling 854,000 barrels daily, exports of gasoline and components increased by 57% to 526,000 barrels.
US exports will exceed imports by 350,000 barrels daily in 2012 and by 320,000 in 2013. Gasoline demand dropped by 2.9% to 8.736 million barrels daily, with prices reaching a record of $3.521 per gallon.
Imports of petroleum dropped by 11% to 8.436 million barrels daily, the minimum since 1995. Domestic oil extraction increased by 3.6% to 5.673 million barrels daily, the record of the last 8 years.
Mexico’s demand for US gasoline increased by 44%, compared with 2010.
The US Department for Energy said that the country will increase oil extraction by 20% to 6.7 million barrels daily in 10 years with extraction of slate hydrocarbons. US president Barack Obama said that 17% of imports can be replaced with own petroleum with increase of shelf drilling.
